If Trump wants to help millions of aging Americans, he’ll adopt this Harris plan | Opinion
Long-term care for aging Americans is a challenge transcending party lines, affecting millions of families who are struggling to balance caregiving with work and daily life. With a rapidly aging population and more than 105 million individuals serving as caregivers, the need for policy reform in long-term care has never been more urgent. Vice President Kamala Harris’ proposal to expand Medicare benefits to cover home health care was a promising solution not to be realized.
This proposal, aimed at alleviating the emotional, financial, and physical burdens on caregivers, has broad potential bipartisan appeal. It would be a crucial step to addressing America’s caregiving crisis — and President-Elect Donald Trump should champion it.
Harris’ proposal targeted the “sandwich generation” — adults who are simultaneously caring for both their children and aging parents. About 23% of American adults fall into this group. Many of these caregivers face difficult choices, such as reducing their working hours, quitting their jobs, or experiencing emotional stress while trying to meet the needs of multiple generations. By expanding Medicare to include home health care, Harris hoped to ease the burden on caregivers, allowing seniors to live with dignity in their homes, rather than being forced into costly and often impersonal nursing homes. Here in North Carolina, more than 1.7 million residents are over 65. The benefit to them and their families is clear.
The current system is wildly inadequate. Medicare does not cover long-term home health care except in narrow circumstances, forcing families to pay out of pocket or rely on Medicaid if they qualify.
The cost of care is staggering. A home health aide costs about $70,000 annually for 40 hours of weekly care, while nursing home stays range from about $100,000 to $117,000 per year. For the average Medicare beneficiary, whose income is roughly $36,000 annually, this is a near-impossible expense. Harris’ plan aimed to alleviate this financial burden by providing Medicare coverage for those who need assistance with basic activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing and dressing.
The proposal noted wealthier seniors would contribute to the cost, making the plan fair and sustainable. By targeting financial assistance at seniors with modest incomes, this plan offers meaningful relief without overwhelming the federal budget. To fund the program, Harris proposed expanding Medicare’s drug price negotiations, implementing international tax reforms and introducing other cost-saving measures. While the estimated cost of the program was $40 billion annually, these funding mechanisms offer a practical way to implement such a plan without placing excessive strain on taxpayers.
The urgency of this proposal is underscored by the significant financial and emotional toll caregiving takes on families. According to AARP, caregivers provide over $600 billion in unpaid labor each year, yet they are often unsupported by the current long-term care system. Harris’ plan would have provided financial and structural support for caregivers, enabling them to maintain their jobs and livelihoods while ensuring that their loved ones receive the care they need.
What made this proposal especially compelling was its potential for bipartisan support. The issue of aging care is not confined to party politics. A recent survey found that more than three quarters of Republicans and Democrats surveyed supported adding long-term care to Medicare coverage.
Addressing the long-term care crisis is an area where lawmakers can find common ground, particularly given the growing recognition of the issue’s urgency.
The expansion would be a long-overdue policy solution to a problem that impacts millions of Americans. It represents a rare bipartisan opportunity to tackle a pressing national issue. This is a chance for policymakers to set aside partisan differences and prioritize the well-being of millions of caregivers and aging Americans. Let’s hope the Trump Administration can deliver.